REGULATION FOR WELLNESS AND NUTRITION
Additional Wellness Goals, Nutrition Guidelines and Implementation Plan
The School Wellness Policy establishes a mission of providing a curriculum, instruction, and experiences in the environment of a health-promoting school community, to instill habits of lifelong learning and health. The School Wellness Policy authorizes the Superintendent to establish such further goals and nutrition guidelines as are determined appropriate to meet the stated mission. This regulation sets forth additional goals and nutrition guidelines as appropriate to meet the District’s school wellness mission and implement the School Wellness Policy.
Nutrition Education Activities to Promote Student Wellness
The base goal is to implement a curriculum that meets or exceeds the health and nutrition education objectives established by the Nebraska Department of Education. The administration establishes the following additional goals and actions to achieve such goals:
1. Curriculum: Nutrition education will be integrated into other subjects to complement, but not replace, the health and nutrition education curriculum that is provided in accordance with NDE Rule 10. Educators are to incorporate the promotion of healthy eating nutrition lifestyles in all subject areas as appropriate.
2. Display Nutrition Education Materials: The cafeteria shall display posters or other communications suitable to the ages of students served that promote healthy nutrition choices (e.g., display food pyramid). Educators are encouraged to incorporate such communications in their classrooms as well.
3. Family: a. Parents are to be welcomed to join their children at school lunch as appropriate. b. School communications to parents will include information about healthy nutrition; such as by including information about healthy snacks for children.
4. Staff: Our employees are encouraged to be healthy role models for students. It is important for students to receive consistent messages.
Physical Activities to Promote Student Wellness
The established goal is to implement a curriculum that meets or exceeds the health and physical education objectives established by the Nebraska Department of Education. The administration establishes the following additional goals and actions to achieve such goals:
1. Curriculum: Health and physical education will be integrated into other subjects to complement, but not replace, the health and physical education curriculum provided in accordance with NDE Rule 10. Educators are to incorporate physical activity promotion and non-sedentary lifestyles in all subject areas as appropriate.
2. As Punishment: Physical activity will not be used as punishment and will not be withheld as punishment. This guideline shall not apply to extra-curricular activities. Educators may use appropriate professional discretion to make exceptions to this guideline. In no event, however, will physical activity be used as a form of corporal punishment.
3. Display Physical Activity Educational Materials: The cafeteria, gym, and health classrooms shall display posters or other communications suitable to the ages of students served that promote physical activity and non-sedentary lifestyles (e.g., display sports posters, walking fitness posters). Educators are encouraged to incorporate such communications in their classrooms as well. Other School Activities to Promote Student Wellness The established goal is to offer other suitable opportunities to students to engage in health-promoting activities. The administration establishes the following additional goals and actions to achieve such goals:
1. Extracurricular Programs: The District will offer athletic and other activity programs subject to and in compliance with the bylaws of the Nebraska School Activities Association. Secondary school students will be offered the opportunity to participate in intramural sports activities commensurate with their interests and school resources.
2. After-School Facility Uses: The school’s physical activity facilities (playground, gym) will be made available to use by students outside the normal school day, subject to other competing uses and safety and risk management considerations.
3. Community Resources: The administration will coordinate the school wellness program efforts with those available from medical and other community organizations.
Nutrition Guidelines
The established nutrition guidelines for foods available in the district during the school day are as follows: (1) a school lunch program will be offered which meets or exceeds the requirements of federal and state law and regulatory authorities and (2) no foods in competition with the school lunch program shall be sold or otherwise made available to students anywhere on school premises during the period of one-half hour prior to the serving period for lunch and lasting until one-half hour after the serving of lunch. The administration establishes the following additional nutrition guidelines and actions to meet the guidelines:
1. Conditions for School Meals:
a. Scheduling meals. Breakfast will be served daily at the beginning of the school day. Lunch periods will be scheduled at times when students are in need of nutrition (e.g., in the middle of their school day). Students will be provided adequate time to eat. In general students will, upon arrival in the cafeteria, have at least 15 minutes to eat lunch.
b. Conditions for meals. Efforts shall be made to establish comfortable and relaxed eating conditions. The factors to promote these conditions will be a clean, orderly environment, pleasant food services staff, adequate seating, enforcement of student conduct rules and adequate supervision.
c. Healthy snacks will be made available to all students in grades K-5 at midmorning and to grades PK-1 a mid-afternoon.
2. Selection of School Meals:
a. School Meals: School meals shall at a minimum meet nutrition requirements established by state and federal law. The school food service staff is to offer meals that are of a nutritional value higher than that required. Emphasize is to be on good menu planning principles that offer healthy food choices including lean meats, a variety of fruits and non-fried vegetables daily, whole grains once each week, and low-fat or nonfat milk daily. Locate these choices where they are readily accessible to students. Limit portion sizes of desserts and fried foods.
3. Student’s Meals from Home: Students will be discouraged from sharing food and be prohibited from sharing foods brought from home. Parents will be encouraged via health promotional materials to make healthy choices for student lunches.
4. Foods available during the school day:
a. Water: Students will be allowed access to water during the school day. Water fountains are available. Educators may in their discretion allow students to bring water bottles to classes.
b. Food rewards. Food will not be used as reward.
c. Classroom Celebrations: Parents are to be encouraged to bring healthy foods for classroom celebrations.
